God is good on His Promises!! (Fire Story)

Some weeks ago, we had planned a vacation. We got everything lined out: dogs were taken care of and horses had someone who’d go out and check on them. Sunday, January 21st, we left for church praying Psalm 91 protection over our house, vehicles, and our animals.

January 25th, 2018 held a day that neither Clay nor I saw coming. The hand of God was upon that day like we can’t even explain.

We had stopped for lunch somewhere around Kingsville, TX—still seeing Border Patrol— when Clay received a call from his boss. Thinking it was about work, I stepped outside to wait on him. He came out and nonchalantly said “Mike said that the horse pasture is on fire. There are people trying to catch our horses.”

All four horses headed home!

When my husband operates solely in peace in a time of chaos, it is so easy for me to take on those same qualities. I asked him if I needed to contact my aunt, who was taking care of them while we were gone. He had said “yeah, let her know.” No sooner had I sent her a text, she was calling saying that a friend had our horses.

Here’s the cool part: as I was thinking about someone who was able to help with our horses, I knew I wanted to call the person who ended up with them. I didn’t have her number, and really hadn’t been around her much, but I just knew she’d be able to help. No sooner was that thought on my mind, and before it was even a prayer formed on my mouth—I received the call that she was out there, and that she had the horses. She had called me shortly after and confirmed that she had them. I honestly could have cried– it was such a sweet moment with The Lord.

As we were getting off the phone, she said “Now, I don’t know about your horse trailer. There’s so much smoke, and I know they’re spraying it with water, so I don’t know if it caught on fire or if they’re stopping it from catching on fire.”

As I relayed the message about the horse trailer to Clay, we both said “The trailer is part of our stuff, and it’s included in being spared.”

Gobs of phone calls later revealed that the horse trailer was still standing. Reports from friends said that they were both relieved and disappointed. Relieved because the horses were safe, disappointed because they didn’t think the trailer would make it through. There was so much smoke! But, alas, the smoke cleared and there the trailer stood! Someone drove up and sprayed the trailer in case it got hot. But, y’all…only ONE tire had cables showing like it got hot enough.

As you can see in the picture below, our trailer was untouched, our water tanks were untouched, and the south part of the pasture where are horses were hanging out is unburned.

We arrived home late Friday evening and headed out Saturday to go get the horses.

The promise in Malachi 3:10-11 says “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.”

The promise in Psalm 91:9-10 says “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place–the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you,no plague come near your tent.”

Seeing our end of the damage, there was such an exclamation point on the promises of God to me. He is GOOD on His promises. What He says He will do, He will do.

Clay said it was a good lesson for him too, as he was anxious about leaving for that long. He knew that if something were to happen, he wouldn’t be able to control it. He said that for him, it was a reminder that God has our stuff in His hands.

He also mentioned that the week before, he was thinking about moving the trailer forward several feet, but had second thoughts. Had he gone through with that, our trailer would not be standing.

Our horses used to be on the North End of the pasture that caught fire. Had they been there, they would have died of smoke inhalation and/or burned. As it was, they were in the very south end of the pasture where they did not experience any smoke inhalation.

I want to say thank you to all of the first responders, friends and family for all of your help in getting the fire out and assisting with the horses. But I want to say a special thank you to Jess Koppitz for getting the ball rolling, and for sacrificing your work clothes and high heels to rescue our horses and taking care of them until we got back.

Unfortunately, the fire went on to destroy more and there were cattle lost as a result. While we rejoice in our stuff being spared, we recognize and are saddened by the loss resulting from someone’s carelessness.

This was looking toward where our trailer was.Close to where the fire started.This was beside our trailer. If you look to where the pallet is burned up there, that is where Clay was going to move the trailer to.We lost a hay bale…but that’s it.

Wow what an experience. I loved your reference to Malachi and this: “I received the call that she was out there, and that she had the horses. She had called me shortly after and confirmed that she had them. I honestly could have cried– it was such a sweet moment with The Lord. That is such a blessing. I have had those things happen in my life too, and I feel like it’s literally God’s hand.

It truly wonderful and sometimes mind-boggling when you get such peace in times of crisis. I usually find that God does this for me in situations I have no control over. Yet I forget Him when I think I can resolve things myself so this is a great reminder to ask for His peace in all circumstances.